Friedrich Kirchner

Friedrich Kirchner (26 March 1885-6 April 1960) was a General der Panzertruppe of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Biography
Friedrich Kirchner was born on 26 March 1885 in Zoebigker, Saxony, German Empire, and he enlisted in the Imperial German Army in 1899. In 1907, he was promoted to Leutnant, and he became a cavalry Rittmeister (captain) in 1915 during World War I. Kirchner was accepted into the Reichswehr after the end of the war, and he continued his service in the cavalry. In 1934, he was promoted to Oberst and to Generalmajor on 1 March 1938, and Kirchner led a division during the invasion of Poland before being given command of the 1st Panzer Division in November. He was wounded when a German vehicle ran over one of his legs during the Battle of France, but he took command of the LVII Armeekorps on 15 November 1941 and was promoted to General der Panzertruppe on 1 February 1942. He led the corps until the war's end in 1945, and he died in Fulda, Hesse in 1960.